Catheter system clamp, systems, and methods

ABSTRACT

A method to manage flushing of a catheter assembly may include providing a clamp for a fluid tube configured to be coupled to the catheter assembly. The clamp may include a sensor configured to detect the clamp is closed. The method may include starting a timer in response to the sensor detecting the clamp is closed. The method may include providing an alert in response to the timer reaching a predetermined duration of time. The alert may indicate to a clinician that the catheter assembly should be opened and flushed, which may prevent occlusion of the catheter assembly.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/841,379, filed Apr. 6, 2020, and entitled CATHETER SYSTEM CLAMP,SYSTEMS, AND METHODS, which claims the benefit of U.S. Application No.62/830,838, filed Apr. 8, 2019, and entitled CATHETER SYSTEM CLAMP,SYSTEMS, AND METHODS, which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Catheters are commonly used for a variety of infusion therapies. Forexample, catheters may be used for infusing fluids, such as normalsaline solution, various medicaments, and total parenteral nutrition,into a patient. Catheters may also be used for withdrawing blood fromthe patient.

A common type of catheter is an over-the-needle peripheral IV catheter(“PIVC”). As its name implies, the over-the-needle PIVC may be mountedover an introducer needle having a sharp distal tip. The sharp distaltip may be used to pierce skin and the vasculature of the patient.Insertion of the PIVC into the vasculature may follow the piercing ofthe vasculature by the needle. The needle and the PIVC are generallyinserted at a shallow angle through the skin into the vasculature of thepatient with a bevel of the needle facing away from the skin of thepatient. Once placement of the needle within the vasculature has beenconfirmed, the clinician may temporarily occlude flow in the vasculatureand withdraw the needle, leaving the PIVC in place for future bloodwithdrawal and/or fluid infusion.

In some instances, the PIVC may become unusable or compromised be due toocclusion of the PIVC over time. In response to the PIVC becomingoccluded, the PIVC may need to be removed and replaced with a newcatheter. Catheter occlusions may be thrombotic, resulting fromformation of a thrombus within or surrounding a distal tip of thecatheter. Catheter occlusions may also be non-thrombotic, resulting fromprecipitates, mechanical obstructions, and other factors. Further,catheter occlusions can lead to catheter infection, pulmonary embolism,post-thrombotic syndrome, and other negative health outcomes. Cliniciansare instructed to regularly flush the PIVC to prevent occlusion andextend an indwelling period of the PIVC but some may fail to followflushing protocols.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments thatsolve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such asthose described above. Rather, this background is only provided toillustrate one example technology area where some implementationsdescribed herein may be practiced.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to vascular access systems andrelated devices and methods. In some embodiments, a method to manageflushing of a catheter assembly may include providing a clamp for afluid tube configured to couple to the catheter assembly. In someembodiments, the clamp may include a sensor configured to detect whenthe clamp is closed. In some embodiments, the method may includestarting a timer in response to the sensor detecting the clamp isclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include providing an alertin response to the timer reaching a predetermined duration of time. Insome embodiments, the alert may indicate to a clinician that thecatheter assembly should be opened and flushed, which may preventocclusion of the catheter assembly.

In some embodiments, providing the alert may include transmitting analert signal over a network to a monitoring device, such as a clinicianmonitoring device. In some embodiments, the alert signal may indicate tothe monitoring device to provide the alert. In some embodiments, thealert may include a sound, a tactile vibration, or a visual cue. In someembodiments, the visual cue may include a change in status of a light.In some embodiments, an indication may be provided in an electronichealth record of a patient in response to the sensor detecting the clampis closed.

In some embodiments, the sensor may be configured to detect the clamp isopen. In some embodiments, in response to the sensor detecting the clampis open for another predetermined duration of time, the timer may bestopped and/or reset. In some embodiments, in response to the sensordetecting the clamp is open for the other predetermined duration oftime, another alert signal may be transmitted over the network to themonitoring device to stop the alert or provide another alert. In someembodiments, another indication may be provided in the electronic healthrecord of the patient in response to the sensor detecting the clamp isopen for the other predetermined duration of time.

In some embodiments, another sensor may be provided, which may beconfigured to detect fluid flowing through the fluid tube. In someembodiments, the other sensor may include a flow sensor. In someembodiments, in response to the sensor detecting the clamp is open andthe other sensor detecting fluid flowing through the fluid tube, thetimer may be stopped and/or reset.

The object and advantages of the embodiments will be realized andachieved at least by the elements, features, and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that boththe foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention,as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will be described and explained with additionalspecificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1A is an upper perspective view of an example catheter system,according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1B is an upper perspective view of an example clamp, illustratingthe clamp in an open position, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1C is an upper perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 1B,illustrating the clamp is a closed position, according to someembodiments;

FIG. 1D is an upper perspective view of an example clinician monitoringdevice, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1E is an example electronic health record that may be presented ona display screen of a clinician monitoring device, according to someembodiments; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example flush management system,according to some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1A, an example catheter system 14 is illustrated,according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the catheter system14 may include a catheter assembly 16. In some embodiments, the catheterassembly 16 may include a catheter adapter 18 and a catheter 20extending distally from the catheter adapter 18. In some embodiments,the catheter adapter 18 may include a side port 22 in fluidcommunication with the lumen of the catheter adapter 18. In someembodiments, the catheter adapter 18 may include a proximal end 23, adistal end 24, and a lumen extending there between. In some embodiments,the catheter 20 may include a PIVC.

In some embodiments, the catheter assembly 16 may be removably coupledto a needle assembly, which may include a needle hub 26 and anintroducer needle 28. In some embodiments, the introducer needle 28 mayinclude a sharp distal tip 30. In some embodiments, a proximal end ofthe introducer needle 28 may be secured within the needle hub 26. Insome embodiments, the introducer needle 28 may extend through thecatheter 20 when the catheter assembly 16 is in an insertion positionready for insertion into vasculature of a patient, as illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 1A. In some embodiments, in response to the introducerneedle 28 being inserted into the vasculature of the patient, flashbackof blood may flow through the sharp distal tip 30 of the introducerneedle 28 and may be visible to a clinician between the introducerneedle 28 and the catheter 20 and/or at another location within thecatheter assembly 16.

In some embodiments, in response to confirmation via the blood flashbackthat the catheter 20 is positioned within vasculature of the patient,the needle assembly may be removed from the catheter assembly 16. Insome embodiments, when the needle assembly is coupled to the catheterassembly 16, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1A, the introducerneedle 28 of the needle assembly may extend through a septum disposedwithin the lumen of the catheter adapter 18.

In some embodiments, the catheter system 14 may include one or morefluid tubes. In some embodiments, the fluid tubes may include anysuitable tube through which fluid may flow to enter the catheterassembly 16. In some embodiments, the catheter system 14 may include aclamp 36 through which a particular fluid tube may extend. In someembodiments, the fluid tubes may be connected to each other and/or oneor more other elements to form a fluid pathway that extends between anIV bag or a fluid delivery device and the catheter assembly 16.

In some embodiments, the fluid tubes may include an extension tube 34,which may be coupled with the catheter assembly 16. In further detail,in some embodiments, a distal end of the extension tube 34 may beintegrated with the catheter adapter 18, as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 1A. For example, the extension tube 34 may be integrated with theside port 22 of the catheter adapter 18. In some embodiments, theextension tube 34 may be removably coupled to the catheter adapter 18.In some embodiments, the fluid tubes may include another tube, which maybe disposed proximal to the extension tube 34. For example, the othertube may be coupled to the IV bag or the fluid delivery device. In someembodiments, the other tube may include an IV line that may extendbetween the IV bag and the extension tube 24.

In some embodiments, the clamp 36 may selectively close off theparticular fluid tube on which the clamp is disposed to prevent blood oranother fluid from flowing through the particular fluid tube. In someembodiments, the clinician may activate the clamp 36 by removing abattery isolator 37 or flipping a switch.

In some embodiments, an adapter 38 may be coupled to a proximal end ofthe extension tube 34. In some embodiments, the adapter 38 may include aY-adapter or another suitable connector. In some embodiments, aneedleless connector 40 may be coupled to the adapter 38. In someembodiments, the adapter 38 and/or the needleless connector 40 may beused to connect the catheter 20 with a medical device for fluidadministration or blood withdrawal. The medical device may include atransfusion bag, syringe, or any other suitable medical device.

In some embodiments, the catheter system 14 may include any suitablecatheter assembly, and the clamp 36 may be coupled to any suitable fluidtube. In some embodiments, the extension tube 34 may extend from theproximal end 23 of the catheter adapter 18. In some embodiments, thecatheter assembly 16 may include a peripheral, central, or midlinecatheter assembly. In some embodiments, a peripherally inserted centralcatheter (“PICC”) assembly may include pigtail extension tubes, and aparticular clamp 36 may be coupled to one or more of the pigtailextension tubes.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, in response to the clamp 36 being opened,fluid may flow through the fluid tubes, such as, for example, theextension tube 34 and/or the other fluid tube, and through the catheterassembly 16. For example, fluid may be infused into the patient via amedical device coupled to the adapter 38 or blood may be withdrawn fromthe patient into a blood collection device coupled to the adapter 38. Insome embodiments, the clamp 36 may include a sensor 42, which may beconfigured to detect the clamp 36 is closed and/or open. In someembodiments, the sensor 42 may be positioned to detect movement of theclamp 36.

In some embodiments, the sensor 42 may include an optical sensor, amagnetic sensor, an electro-mechanical sensor, or another suitable typeof sensor. As an example, the optical sensor may include a lightbarrier, which may be realized by a light emitting diode or a laserdiode and a phototransistor. As an example, the magnetic sensor mayinclude a reed relay or Hall sensor. As an example, theelectromechanical sensor may include a switch or potentiometer.

Referring now to FIG. 1C, in response to the clamp 36 being closed,fluid may be prevented from flowing through the particular fluid tube onwhich the clamp 36 is disposed. In some embodiments, the clamp 36 mayinclude a pinch clamp, which may pinch the particular fluid tube inresponse to movement of the clamp 36 to the closed position. In someembodiments, the clamp 36 may include an arm 44, which may include aprotrusion that contacts and pinches the particular fluid tube. In someembodiments, the clamp 36 may include any suitable clamp, and the sensor42 may include any suitable sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor 42may be disposed at various locations.

In some embodiments, the clamp 36 may provide an alert which may includea sound, a tactile vibration, or a visual cue. In some embodiments, thevisual cue may include a change in status of a light. FIGS. 1A-1Cillustrate an example light 48, according to some embodiments. In someembodiments, the status of the light 48 may change in response to theclamp 36 being closed for a predetermined duration of time. For example,the light 48 may turn on or may change color in response to the clamp 36being closed for the predetermined duration of time. As another example,the light 48 may blink or change a rate of blinking in response to theclamp 36 being closed for the predetermined duration of time.

In some embodiments, the predetermined duration of time may correspondto a time prior to a clinically recommended time to flush the catheterassembly 16. In these embodiments, the alert may include a warning,which may indicate to the clinician that a clinically recommended timeto flush the catheter assembly 16 is approaching. In some embodiments,the clinically recommended time to flush the catheter assembly 16 may bebetween about 6 hours and about 8 hours from the previous flushing ofthe catheter assembly 16. In some embodiments, the predeterminedduration of time may correspond to the clinically recommended time toflush the catheter assembly 16. In some embodiments, a first alert maybe provided by the clamp 36 in response to the clinically recommendedtime to flush the catheter assembly 16 approaching (such as, forexample, in 30 minutes, 10 minutes, or 5 minutes), and a second alertmay be provided by the clamp 36 in response to arrival of the clinicallyrecommended time to flush the catheter assembly 16. In some embodiments,the first alert may include a yellow or orange light, and the secondalert may include a red light.

In some embodiments, the light 48 may be disposed at various locationson the clamp 36, which may be visible to the clinician. In someembodiments, the clamp 36 may include multiple lights 48. In someembodiments, the light 48 may extend around a curved edge of the clamp36, as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1C.

Referring now to FIG. 1D, an example clinician monitoring device 46 isillustrated, according to some embodiments. Examples of the clinicianmonitoring device 46 may include a computing device, a mobile phone, asmartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, amedical device, or a connected device (e.g., a smartwatch, smartglasses, or any other connected device). In some embodiments, inaddition to the clamp 36 or as an alternative to the clamp 36, theclinician monitoring device 46 may provide the alert.

In some embodiments, the clinician monitoring device 46 may include adisplay screen 50, which may provide the alert. In some embodiments, thealert may include a phrase such as, for example, “Flush Due.” In someembodiments, the alert may include a visual cue on the display screen50, such as a portion 51 of the display screen 50 that lights up orchanges color. In some embodiments, the portion 51 of the display screen50 may blink or change a rate of blinking to provide the alert. In someembodiments, the clinician monitoring device 46 may include the light48, as described, for example, with respect to FIG. 1C.

Referring now to FIG. 1E, an example electronic health record 52 thatmay be presented on the display screen 50 of the clinician monitoringdevice 46 is illustrated, according to some embodiments. In someembodiments, an indication may be provided on the display screen 50 inresponse to opening and/or closing of the clamp 36. In some embodiments,the indication may be provided on the display screen 50 in response toopening the clamp 36 for a particular predetermined duration of timeand/or closing the clamp 36 for a particular predetermined duration oftime.

In some embodiments, the indication may include one or more of thefollowing: a time of day 56, a status 58, and a duration of time 60. Insome embodiments, the duration of time 60 may include a duration of timethe clamp 36 has been closed. In some embodiments, the status 58 mayinclude “open” and may be adjacent to the time of day 56, indicating tothe clinician the time of day at which the clamp 36 was opened. In someembodiments, the status 58 may include “closed” and may be adjacent tothe time of day 56, indicating to the clinician the time of day at whichthe clamp 36 was closed.

FIG. 2 is as block diagram of an example flush management system (FMsystem) 62, arranged in accordance with at least one embodimentdescribed in the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the FM system62 may include the clamp 63. In some embodiments, the clamp 63 mayinclude or correspond to the clamp 36 described with respect to FIG. 1 .In some embodiments, the clamp 63 may include a computing system 64.

In some embodiments, the computing system 64 may include a processor 66,a memory 68, a data storage 70, and a communication unit 72. In someembodiments, the processor 66, the memory 68, the data storage 70, andthe communication unit 72 may be communicatively coupled by a bus 74.The bus 74 may include, but is not limited to, a controller area network(CAN) bus, a memory bus, a storage interface bus, a bus/interfacecontroller, an interface bus, or the like or any combination thereof. Insome embodiments, the processor 66 may include a timer 75. In someembodiments, the timer 75 may be a separate component linked to theprocessor 66.

In general, the processor 66 may include any suitable special-purpose orgeneral-purpose computer, computing entity, or processing deviceincluding various computer hardware or software modules and may beconfigured to execute instructions stored on any applicablecomputer-readable storage media. For example, the processor 66 mayinclude a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or any other digital or analogcircuitry configured to interpret and/or to execute program instructionsand/or to process data. Although illustrated as a single processor inFIG. 2 , the processor 66 may include any number of processorsconfigured to perform, individually or collectively, any number ofoperations described in the present disclosure. Additionally, one ormore of the processors 66 may be present on one or more differentelectronic devices.

In some embodiments, the processor 66 may interpret and/or executeprogram instructions and/or process data stored in the memory 68, thedata storage 70, or the memory 68 and the data storage 70. In someembodiments, the processor 66 may fetch program instructions from thedata storage 70 and load the program instructions in the memory 68. Insome embodiments, after the program instructions are loaded into memory68, the processor 66 may execute the program instructions.

For example, in some embodiments, a flush module 76 may be included inthe data storage 70 as program instructions. In some embodiments, theflush module 76 may be configured to manage flushing of the catheterline 32 and the catheter assembly 16. The processor 66 may fetch theprogram instructions of the flush module 76 from the data storage 70 andmay load the program instructions of the flush module 76 in the memory68. After the program instructions of the flush module 76 are loadedinto the memory 68, the processor 66 may execute the programinstructions such that the computing system 64 may implement theoperations associated with the flush module 76 as directed by theinstructions.

The memory 68 and the data storage 70 may include computer-readablestorage media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions ordata structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable storage media mayinclude any available media that may be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer, such as the processor 66. By way of example,and not limitation, such computer-readable storage media may includetangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage media includingRAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory devices (e.g.,solid state memory devices), or any other storage medium which may beused to carry or store desired program code in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which may beaccessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. Combinationsof the above may also be included within the scope of computer-readablestorage media. Computer-executable instructions may include, forexample, instructions and data configured to cause the processor 66 toperform a certain operation or group of operations.

In some embodiments, one or more clinician monitoring devices 73 may beconnected to the computing system 64 via a network 78. In these andother embodiments, the network 78 may include a wired or wirelessnetwork, and may have any suitable configuration, such as a starconfiguration, a token ring configuration, or other configurations.Furthermore, in some embodiments, the network 78 may include an Ethernetnetwork, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) (e.g.,the Internet), and/or other interconnected data paths across whichmultiple devices may communicate. In some embodiments, the network 78may include a peer-to-peer network. In some embodiments, the network 78may also be coupled to or include portions of a telecommunicationsnetwork that may enable communication of data in a variety of differentcommunication protocols. In some embodiments, the clinician monitoringdevices 73 may include or correspond to any of the clinician monitoringdevices 46 described with respect to FIG. 1 .

In some embodiments, the network 78 may include BLUETOOTH® communicationnetworks and/or cellular communications networks for sending andreceiving data including via short messaging service (SMS), multimediamessaging service (MMS), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), direct dataconnection, wireless application protocol (WAP), e-mail, etc. Thenetwork 78 may enable communication via a standard-based protocol suchas smart energy profile (SEP), Echonet Lite, OpenADR, or anothersuitable protocol (e.g., wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), ZigBee, HomePlugGreen, etc.).

In some embodiments, the communication unit 72 may be configured totransmit data to and receive data from the clinician monitoring devices73 via the network 78. In some embodiments, the communication unit 72may also be configured to transmit and receive data from a displayscreen 80 and/or an electronic health record 82. In some embodiments,the display screen 80 may include or correspond to the display screen 50described with respect to FIG. 1D or 1E. In some embodiments, theelectronic health record 82 may include or correspond to the electronichealth record 52 of FIG. 1E. In some embodiments, the flush module 76may be configured to send and receive data via the communication unit72.

In some embodiments, the communication unit 72 may include a port fordirect physical connection to the network 78 and/or anothercommunication channel. For example, the communication unit 72 mayinclude a universal serial bus (USB) port, a secure digital (SD) port, acategory 5 cable (CAT-5) port, or similar port for wired communicationwith another device. In some embodiments, the communication unit 72 mayinclude a wireless transceiver for exchanging data with the clinicianmonitoring device 46 or other communication channels using one or morewireless communication methods, including IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16,BLUETOOTH®, or another suitable wireless communication method.

In some embodiments, the communication unit 72 may include a cellularcommunications transceiver for sending and receiving data over acellular communications network including via SMS, MMS, HTTP, directdata connection, WAP, e-mail, or another suitable type of electroniccommunication. The communication unit 72 may also provide otherconventional connections to the network 78 for distribution of files ormedia objects using standard network protocols including transmissioncontrol protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), HTTP, HTTP secure (HTTPS),and simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP).

An example of how the flush module 76 may manage flushing of a catheterassembly is now provided. In some embodiments, in response to a sensor84 detecting the clamp is closed, the flush module 76 may be configuredto start a timer 86. In some embodiments, the sensor 84 may include orcorrespond to the sensor 42 described with respect to FIG. 1 . In someembodiments, in response to the timer 86 reaching a predeterminedduration of time, the flush module 76 may be configured to generate oneor more alerts at the clamp and/or to transmit an alert signal over thenetwork 78 to the clinician monitoring devices 73, which may provide oneor more alerts. In some embodiments, the alerts may include any of thealerts described with respect to FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, thealerts may indicate to the clinician that the clinically recommendedtime to flush the catheter assembly has arrived or is approaching.

In some embodiments, the flush module 76 may be configured to provide anindication in an electronic health record 88 of a patient in response tothe sensors 84 detecting the clamp 63 is closed. In some embodiments,the electronic health record 88 may be stored and/or displayed on theclinician monitoring devices 73. In some embodiments, the electronichealth record 88 may include or correspond to the electronic healthrecord 52 described with respect to FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, theindication may include or correspond to the indication 54 described withrespect to FIG. 1 .

In some embodiments, in response to the sensors 84 detecting the clamp63 is open or open for another predetermined duration of time, the flushmodule 76 may be configured to stop and/or reset the timer 86. In someembodiments, the flush module 76 may be configured to stop the timer 86only after the clamp 63 has been open for the other predeterminedduration of time to prevent opening of the clamp 63 when adequateflushing could not have occurred.

In some embodiments, in response to the sensors 84 detecting the clamp63 is open for the other predetermined duration, the flush module 76 maybe configured to stop the alert at the clamp 63 or provide a differentalert at the clamp 63. Additionally or alternatively, in someembodiments, in response to the sensors 84 detecting the clamp 63 isopen for the other predetermined duration, the flush module 76 may beconfigured to transmit another alert signal over the network 78 to theclinician monitoring devices 73 to stop the alert or provide a differentalert.

In some embodiments, the flush module 76 may be configured to provideanother indication in the electronic health record 88 of the patient inresponse to the sensors 84 detecting the clamp 63 is open for the otherpredetermined duration of time. In some embodiments, the otherindication may include or correspond to the indication 54 described withrespect to FIG. 1 .

In some embodiments, one or more other sensors 90 may be configured todetect fluid flowing through a fluid tube, such as, for example theextension tube 34 of the catheter assembly 16 described with respect toFIG. 1 or another fluid tube in fluid communication with the catheterassembly 16. In some embodiments, the other sensors may include a flowsensor and/or a pressure sensor. Example devices that include flowsensors and/or pressure sensors are described in U.S. Patent ApplicationNo. 62/830,707, filed Apr. 8, 2019, entitled “OCCLUSION DETECTIONDEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,412, filed Jun.7, 1995, entitled “PULSED THERMAL FLOW SENSOR SYSTEM,” which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments, inresponse to the sensors 84 detecting the clamp 63 is open and the othersensors 90 detecting fluid flowing through the fluid tube, the flushmodule 76 may be configured to stop and/or reset the timer 86. Althoughillustrated outside the clamp 63 in FIG. 2 , it is understood that theother sensors 90 may be part of the clamp 63.

In some embodiments, an external server may include one or morecomponents of the computing system 64. In some embodiments, the externalserver may be connected to the clamp 63 and/or the clinician monitoringdevice 73 via the network 78 or another network. Modifications,additions, or omissions may be made to the FM system 62 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the invention andthe concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and areto be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present inventionshave been described in detail, it should be understood that the variouschanges, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method to manage flushing of a catheterassembly to prevent occlusion of the catheter assembly, the methodcomprising: providing a clamp for a fluid tube of a catheter assembly,wherein the clamp comprises an onboard computing system having aprocessor and a data storage including a flush module, and a sensorconfigured to detect whether the clamp is closed or open; in response tothe sensor detecting the clamp is closed, starting a timer via the flushmodule to measure a duration of time for a closed position of the clamp;and in response to the duration of time reaching a predeterminedduration of time, providing an alert to indicate an event for openingthe clamp and flushing the fluid tube to prevent occlusion of thecatheter assembly.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the alertcomprises transmitting an alert signal over a network to a monitoringdevice, wherein the alert signal indicates to the monitoring device toprovide the alert.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert comprisesa sound, a tactile vibration, or a visual cue.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising providing an indication in an electronic healthrecord of a patient in response to the sensor detecting the clamp isclosed.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the sensordetecting the clamp is open for predetermined duration of time, stoppingor resetting the timer via the flush module.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising providing an indication in an electronic healthrecord of a patient in response to the timer reaching the predeterminedduration of time.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert comprisesa sound emanating from the clamp or a change in status of a lightcoupled to the clamp.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined duration of time is between about six hours and abouteight hours.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predeterminedduration of time corresponds to a recommended time to flush the catheterassembly.